gear giveaway

Guitar Pedals

Strymon El Capistan V2 Tape Delay

The Strymon El Capistan is a lush stereo emulation of a vintage Tape Echo device, in a cleverly simple box. It offers three Tape modes emulating different reading head configurations (Fixed, Multi and Single) and three ways to slightly tweak each one of them. Separate controls for Tape Age and…Click on the title for more

Strymon El Capistan V2 Tape Delay

Fish Circuits Model One Overdrive

Our homie (as in Montreal-based) Mike Poisson has recently launched the first pedal from his new company, the Fish Circuits Model One, an overdrive featuring an original circuit. Hosted in a vintage-looking, custom trapezoidal case, this is a drive that can do more than one thing, and do it well:…Click on the title for more

Fish Circuits Model One Overdrive

JHS 3 Series Tape Delay

The JHS 3 Series Tape Delay marks another milestone in the Kansas City-based company’s mission to deliver affordable ($99), boutique-quality solutions for every type of effect pedal. This latest addition builds on their success in the delay category, following the 3-Series Delay (with analog and digital odes) and the Oil…Click on the title for more

JHS 3 Series Tape Delay

Benson Germanium Preamp

The Benson Germanium Preamp is a variation on the Portland-based company's pedal that put them on the stompbox map: the Preamp, an overdrive/distortion that slowly conquered the ears of a growing number of guitarists. This Germanium version was built on the experience gathered by Chris Benson while working on the…Click on the title for more

Benson Germanium Preamp

Line 6 POD Express

Those who've been around "long enough" will have fond memories of the day in 1998 when they saw, and then heard the very first Line 6 Pod. It was the first mass-produced device to deliver, in a rather small package and rather faithfully, the tones of a myriad of different…Click on the title for more

Line 6 POD Express

Fish Circuits Astronomie Reverb

One of the most intriguing new pedal releases at NAMM 2025 came from a fellow Montrealese brand: the Fish Circuit Astronomie. It's a spring-style reverb/compressor circuit (in that order) with the company's signature chunky vintage look and very unusual controls. Notwithstanding the large footprint, the Astronomie doesn't have real springs…Click on the title for more

Fish Circuits Astronomie Reverb

New Pedal: Diamond Boost/EQ

The Diamond Boost/EQ is a modern reimagining of a concept that began with a custom, compression-free version of the Diamond Compressor. Built on the same platform as the Comp/EQ, this new iteration delivers a clean, transparent boost with advanced tone-shaping capabilities. Featuring the high-fidelity gain stages from the Comp/EQ, it…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Diamond Boost/EQ

ENGL Fireball IR

The EP635 (aka ENGL Fireball IR) is a compact, feature-packed preamp pedal that captures the high-gain response and tonal character of ENGL’s Fireball amplifier. Designed for versatility, it offers two independent channels, onboard IR loading, and studio-quality headphone output—making it a practical solution for stage, studio, and silent practice. Key…Click on the title for more

ENGL Fireball IR

New Pedals: Analogwise Megawatt Mayhem Maestro

The hand-built Megawatt Mayhem Maestro (MMM) is a one-knob germanium fuzz pedal designed to push slightly overdriven tube amps into aggressive territory and add sustain to overdrives. Its circuit, similar to other models but biased hotter with more bass, delivers a sweet yet gritty germanium fuzz with increased low-end oomph.…Click on the title for more

New Pedals: Analogwise Megawatt Mayhem Maestro

New Pedal: Kink Pedals Radical Fuzz Phaser

Hand-made in Australia, the Kink Pedals Radical Fuzz Phaser is a dual-effect guitar pedal that combines classic fuzz with an analog phaser. It allows for both smooth overdrive and full-blown distortion, as well as swirling, hypnotic modulation with the phaser, and offers a switch to toggle between phaser and "vibe"…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Kink Pedals Radical Fuzz Phaser

Noise Engineering Batverb Stereo Reverb

Emerging from the Eurorack module-ridden offices where the Noise Engineering team devises their circuit, the Batverb is a stereo reverb and synthetic tail generator that defies convention. Built on the powerful algorithm from the company's Desmodus Versio module, this pedal is a treasure trove of delay and reverb textures, all…Click on the title for more

Noise Engineering Batverb Stereo Reverb

BOSS RV-200 Reverb

BOSS's 200 series pedals are smaller but not necessarily less powerful versions of the Japanese company's flagship, multi-algorithm, stereo 500 series. The BOSS RV-200 (also a stereo device) is the much-anticipated shrunken version of the RV-500. Considering that its delay sibling, the DD-200, was released four years earlier, one may…Click on the title for more

BOSS RV-200 Reverb